System and method for providing character interactive input/output

ABSTRACT

A system and method for supporting character interactive input/output operation in a half-duplex block-mode environment including a workstation and a server. Keystrokes at the workstation received into an auto enter, non-display entity on the workstation display are automatically transferred as entered from the workstation to a server application which processes the keystroke and responds in a manner appropriate to the context of the application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Technical Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention pertains to inter operability among various computer platform architectures existing in a network. More particularly, it pertains to providing the look and feel of character interactive I/O operation across disparate architectures.

[0003] 2. Background Art

[0004] In a client/server computer network, inter operability among the various platform architectures that exist in the network is a primary goal of the network. In particular, client/server network applications such as Telnet, SMTP, FTP, LPD, etc. are expected to be able to work equivalently, independent of the platform architecture on which they are implemented. However, due to differing architectures of the various platforms, there are often obstacles that severely limit developing and providing a common “look and feel” in terms of network application user interfaces presented on each platform. One such architecture example is the half-duplex block-mode display devices supported by the IBM 5250 architecture iSeries (AS/400) and 3270 (S/390) platforms. Another architecture example is the character interactive I/O architecture, such as supported by Unix (including AIX, Linux, etc.)

[0005] There is a need in the art for a system and method for providing the same “look and feel” of network applications on each platform, even though they must be supported differently by the architectures. The physical rendering of the client user interface can often limit the logical requirement of the server application in the network.

[0006] For example, when using Telnet from a Unix platform to communicate with an iSeries platform, it is expected that using Telnet from the iSeries platform to the Unix platform (the reverse direction) will work in an equivalent manner and have similar “look and feel” at the user interface. Failure to work in such a bi-directional manner is an inter operability problem. Failure to inter operate creates significant user dissatisfaction due either to loss of functionality or the need to learn custom circumventions or workarounds. Worse, lack of inter operability leads to inability to market or sell a product as a solution in a client/server computer network.

[0007] One such networking inter operability problem exists between the iSeries and the Unix platforms. The iSeries is a half-duplex block-mode display device architecture, which is characteristic of all 5250 and 3270 based display devices and any clone implementation. The Unix box is a character interactive echo-plexed architecture. Unix based display sessions are based on VTxxx type terminals and define a standard character interactive I/O keyboard as the default that must be supported by any display clients wishing to run traditional text display based Unix applications. In the Telnet protocol, a client host rendering a display should emulate the VTxxx (i.e. VT100, VT220) based display and keyboard characteristics to the best of its ability. Due to the IBM 5250/3270 display device architecture of half-duplex block-mode buffering, characters are collected in a buffer until an action identifier (AID) key is entered (such as Enter, program function PF1-PF24 keystrokes, etc.) and all the keystrokes in the buffer transferred to the iSeries application, rather than processed one at a time by an application. This conflicts with the need for a VTxxx type terminal to do character interactive I/O, which essentially means it needs to process each character, as it is typed. This means each character keystroke typed in a half duplex block mode (iSeries Telnet) client session that is running a character interactive I/O application on a Unix server does not necessarily get processed within the context of the server application as a VTxxx keystroke. Instead, it is buffered in the iSeries display device until an action keystroke is pressed. The action keystroke required is normally an enter or program function (PF) key. This is a character interactive I/O inter operability problem on the Telnet client side.

[0008] An example of a character interactive I/O inter operability problem involves password fields. In a native character interactive ASCII environment when the client connects to a Unix Telnet server, the user is presented with a login (or sign-on) panel in which to enter the profile or userid name and password. Typically, each character of the profile or userid name is echoed to the screen as it is typed in, and the cursor position moves with each character typed in. However, each character of the password is hidden by the application itself, which echos a replacement character or characters, such as an asterisk “*”, blanks, XXX, etc. . . . , or by not echoing a character at all and leaving the cursor position unchanged. Unfortunately, again due to half-duplex block-mode architecture design, character substitution does not automatically occur for an iSeries Telnet client. The current iSeries Telnet client circumvention requires the user to press the program function key assigned to the special function “hide keystroke echoes until the next action key”, which is set to PF6 by default for iSeries Telnet client. This local “hotkey function” signals the iSeries Telnet client program that the characters that follow are to be hidden. The iSeries Telnet client refreshes the screen input fields with non display attributes therein instructing the display device to simply send in the keystrokes with the next action key (AID) to avoid displaying the keystrokes to the screen. This also has the side effect of defeating the ability of the application to substitute any preferred different “echo” characters, such as echoing a “XXX”, or “**” or “??” string for each character typed (something Lotus Notes does). Again, this solution is rather “ugly” from a customer perspective, requires knowledge of the circumvention and is not intuitive.

[0009] Another example of a character interactive I/O inter operability problem relates to the use of graphical characters in different contexts. Consider a Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet application to work with saved 1-2-3 files. Lotus 1-2-3 has a classic menu hotkey, where the spreadsheet application recognizes the “/” as a special version of the introducer character. In the context of the Lotus 1-2-3 application, the “/” character is to be used as a command to pop up an application selection menu, not as a direct character to be echoed to the display or typed into the spreadsheet itself. In order to send the “/” alone as a “real” ASCII client would, the iSeries has to use the PF11 (“send without carriage return”) trick to cause a client Telnet to avoid sending the Enter keystroke equivalent for ASCII carriage return (0×0D).

[0010] These examples are deviations from VTxxx defacto standards required by users of 5250/3270 architectures, and it forces users to memorize custom workarounds that are generally not well-known to the average character interactive I/O network user. These workarounds and circumventions are not well received by customers when 5250/3270 platforms are marketed as a solution in any network with character interactive I/O operating systems, and ironically do not inter operate with AIX (a RISC platform).

[0011] Referring to FIG. 1, full duplex operation is illustrated. VTxxx is full-duplex character interactive mode support. This means that as each character is typed on the client workstation, it is sent to the Unix server for processing. The Unix server application then decides based on the content of the dialogue whether to echo the character to the client workstation so that it appears on the display terminal. Thus, in native VTxxx based display, each character typed makes a full round-trip path from the client workstation to the Unix server and back to the client workstation for display. As is represented by lines 24 and 25, keystrokes entered at keyboard 20 are sent directly by client workstation 22 to character interactive application 23. As is represented by lines 26 and 27, character interactive I/O application output is returned directly to display 21. The round trip 24, 25, 26 and 27 may occur (again the application may choose to not echo or advance the cursor) for each keystroke, that is for every character input at keyboard 20.

[0012] Referring to FIG. 2, half duplex operation is illustrated, such as would be implemented in an iSeries (5250) configuration. In this configuration, keystrokes 24 entered at keyboard 20 are accumulated in buffer 30. If local echoing is on (normally, echoing is on by default), as is represented by element 35, these keystrokes 24 will be echoed locally to display 21 (as it is typed on the keyboard 20). As is represented by element 33, when an enter action key is detected in buffer 30 from keystrokes 24, buffered data is sent to application 32 for processing. Application output 34, 36 is sent to client display 21. The round trip represented by elements 24, 30, 33, 34 and 36 occurs when an action key is depressed at keyboard 20 and detected by client workstation 31.

[0013] The above discussion of half duplex (see FIG. 2) is oversimplified in that there is no visible TCP/IP network in the figure. While such a configuration may exist in hardwired networks that use dumb terminals connected via Twinax cabling, the trend in current technology is toward a TCP/IP, or the like, network. (The present invention applies to any client including SNA or Twinax and is not limited to TCP.)

[0014] Referring to FIG. 3, in a TCP/IP network, dumb terminals are replaced with terminal emulators that run on PC workstations and are essentially Telnet clients. This emulator configuration operates in cascaded half duplex mode, a half duplex block-mode imitation of character interactive I/O. Most iSeries customers connect to the iSeries in a TCP/IP network using a Telnet client 40 bundled as part of a package. Client Access Express is an example of such a package. In such a configuration, connectivity for the iSeries from the client workstation 31 using half duplex block mode is achieved without any keystroke problems for applications written with half-duplex block mode architecture and running on the iSeries 43. The problem with half duplex block mode arises when that same client 31, which is already connected to the iSeries 43, then tries to connect to a Unix platform 48 using the iSeries Telnet client 45 and run applications 49 on the Unix platform. That is, workstation 31 uses a terminal emulator (e.g., Client Access Express) to connect to iSeries 45 via Telnet server 43 and gets a command line 44. At command line 44, Telnet client 45 is used to cascade to Unix Telnet server 48 and run application 49. Application 49 needs VTxxx mode (full duplex character mode represented by lines 46, 47) to work properly with keyboard 20 and display 21, but block-mode operation of workstation 31 interferes.

[0015] Illustrated in FIG. 2 is the operation of a 5250/3270 configuration, which requires that all data be in EBCDIC format. Illustrated in FIG. 3 is a Unix platform, which requires that the EBCDIC be converted at element 39 to ASCII by the iSeries Telnet client before it is put on the communication link to the Unix box 48. Thus, ASCII data goes out on line 46 and returns on line 47 to client 45. Not only is data translated in converter 39, but action keys in EBCDIC such as the enter (0×F1) key are converted into equivalent ASCII control codes.

[0016] There is a need in the art for a system and method which solves the character interactive I/O inter operability problem on the iSeries Telnet client.

[0017] It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an improved system and method for rendering a common “look and feel” on different platforms and architectures.

[0018] It is a further object of the invention to provide a system and method for character interactive I/O in a half duplex block mode environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0019] A system and method for supporting character interactive input/output operation in a half-duplex block-mode environment including a workstation and a server. Keystrokes at the workstation received into an auto enter, non-display entity on the workstation display are automatically transferred as entered from the workstation to a server application which processes the keystroke and responds in a manner appropriate to the context of the application.

[0020] Other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021]FIG. 1 illustrates full duplex character mode in accordance with the prior art VTxxx architecture.

[0022]FIG. 2 illustrates half duplex block mode in accordance with the prior art 5250/3270 architecture.

[0023]FIG. 3 illustrates half duplex block mode in combination with full duplex character mode, and illustrates the problem configuration of the prior art addressed by the present invention.

[0024]FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, including an auto enter non-display character position on a local display for receiving all keyboard entered data.

[0025]FIG. 5 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, including a network connection between the workstation and Telnet client.

[0026]FIG. 6 illustrates the four layers of the TCP/IP protocol suite.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0027] In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, an auto enter non-display character position on a local display is used to receive text based keystrokes from the keyboard.

[0028] In an exemplary embodiment, in a half-duplex block-mode device, such as a 5250 display device, buffering of typed characters, in the sense of block-mode buffering done by the 5250/3270 architecture, is avoided and each character as typed is translated from EBCDIC to ASCII and then forwarded in a manner like that of a native character interactive I/O network client.

[0029] Several acronyms are used herein, including the following: FTP file transfer protocol IPX Internet packet exchange LPD line printer daemon (a daemon is a server, which is a listening job or process.) LUD logical unit descriptor RISC reduced instruction set computing SMTP simple mail transport protocol SNA system network architecture VT100 character interactive mode

[0030] VT100 is a Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) model that has become the de facto standard for text based display mode.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 4, 5250 display device 52 is configured or defined (with respect to keyboard 50) as comprising a 1-byte character input field 53 that has auto-enter and non-displayable attributes, as distinguished from the normal 1920-byte character input field that is possible on a 24×80 display device. The auto-enter attribute acts like an internal windows based visibility (scan codes, etc . . . ) and affords the emulator the ability to send an action key (AID) in this context, since it causes an attention signal 79 to the workstation running Client Access Express 55 to occur. This attention signal 79 is then passed to the iSeries Telnet Client 77 via the iSeries Telnet Server 78 as represented by line 57B. The non-displayable attribute prevents any local echo from showing an input character on the display.

[0032] As characters 51 are typed at workstation keyboard 50, an attention identifier (AID) 79 is signaled from the workstation (running Client Access Express) 55, to the iSeries Telnet client 77 via the iSeries Telnet server 78 as represented by line 57B, and a 1-byte character input field content is retrieved from a keystroke buffer 53 and sent, as is represented by line 56, workstation (running Client Access Express) 55 and passed on to iSeries Telnet client 77 via the iSeries Telnet server 78 as represented by line 57 b. ISeries Telnet client 77 then translates the character from EBCDIC to ASCII and safely transmits the keystroke, as is represented by line 57A, to remote Unix application 58 via Unix Telnet Server 58B, where the keystroke is interpreted within the context of the Unix application 58. As is represented by line 59A, the output (if any) of Unix application is then returned to the iSeries Telnet client 77 and passed on to workstation (running Client Access Express) 55 via the iSeries Telnet server 78 and, as represented by line 60, to workstation display 52 (which is “business as usual”).

[0033] Thus, by configuring display device 52 to a 1-byte field 53, processing occurs immediately for each character 51 typed at keyboard 50, as opposed to buffering many keystrokes while waiting for action or AID key.

[0034] In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, a user typing a password, for example, for a character interactive I/O application 58 would see, in password display field 54 of display 52, the effect of application 58 hiding each keystroke of the password and, as shown in FIG. 4, echoing back another character, in this example the “*” character, instead of seeing the password echoed to field 54 of display 52 as would typically occur for 5250 block-mode devices. This removes the need to use circumventions, such as the PF6 “hide keystroke echoes until the next action key” work around previously described.

[0035] This significantly enhances the iSeries's heterogeneous connectivity to more seamlessly connect with character interactive I/O dependent operating systems such as Unix.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 5, the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4 is further described, illustrating a typical network environment.

[0037] A user terminal 62 including keyboard 50 and display 52, is connected through network 69A to iSeries Telnet server 78 and iSeries Telnet client 77 and ultimately via network 69B to server application 74 and host application 76. This is done via protocol stacks for workstation 84, 5250/3270 platform 100, and Unix box 84. These protocol stacks include a plurality of layers 64-67, 101-103, and 71-74, respectively, in, for example, a TCP/IP protocol suite (as further described in connection with FIG. 6). In this example, terminal emulator 67 is a Telnet client, such as Client Access Express.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 6, the four layers 80-83 of the TCP/IP protocol suite include application layer 83, such as Telnet or FTP 98, transport layer 82, such as TCP 97, network layer 81, such as IP 96, and link layer 80, such as device driver or network cards 95. Through the technique of encapsulation, direct communication between protocol stacks occurs only between equivalent layers. For example, referring to FIG. 5, link layer 66 communicates with link layer 71, network layer 65 communicates with network layer 72, transport layer 64 communicates with transport layer 73, and application layer 67 communicates with application layer 74.

[0039] In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, workstation 84, iSeries Telnet server 78 and iSeries Telnet client 77 connecting to UNIX server 85 together represent a cascaded connection, which is a sequence of connections from the users local workstation to the final remote server on which the application is running, requiring character dependent input/output in full duplex mode.

Advantages Over the Prior Art

[0040] It is an advantage of the invention that there is provided an improved system and method for rendering a common “look and feel” on different platforms and architectures.

[0041] It is a further advantage of the invention that there is provided an improved system and method for character interactive I/O in a half duplex block mode environment.

Alternative Embodiments

[0042] It will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, it is within the scope of the invention to provide a computer program product or program element, or a program storage or memory device such as a solid or fluid transmission medium, magnetic or optical wire, tape or disc, or the like, for storing signals readable by a machine, for controlling the operation of a computer according to the method of the invention and/or to structure its components in accordance with the system of the invention.

[0043] Further, each step of the method may be executed on any general computer, such as an IBM System 390 (z Series), AS/400 (i Series), PC (x Series), RISC/6000 (p Series), or the like and pursuant to one or more, or a part of one or more, program elements, modules or objects generated from any programming language, such as C++, Java, Pl/1, Fortran or the like. And still further, each said step, or a file or object or the like implementing each said step, may be executed by special purpose hardware or a circuit module designed for that purpose.

[0044] While the exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described primarily with respect a preferred client server application of Telnet and thus to a TCP/IP environment, the invention is not limited to such. IPX and SNA network transports can also benefit for use of the invention. Also, when reference is made to the Unix architecture, several flavors of Unix are contemplated, including AIX, Linux, Sun, and so forth. RISC and Sun Solaris computers are most often associated with Unix architecture, the iSeries computer is most often associated with 5250 architecture, and S/390 computers (such as those running the Virtual Machine (VM) operating system) most often associated with 3270 architecture. All these computer architectures can support the various network transports (TCP/IP, IPX, SNA, et.) and therefore this invention can apply to the many variations and permutations of each possible network configuration.

[0045] The invention is not even limited to networking environments since a Twinax display with standard 5250 architectural support of the auto-enter feature can be programmed to exploit this invention, affording the character interactive I/O.

[0046] Accordingly, the scope of protection of this invention is limited only by the following claims and their equivalents. 

We claim:
 1. A method for character interactive input/output in a half duplex block mode environment including a workstation and a server, comprising the steps of: receiving a key stroke into a buffer at said workstation; automatically transferring said keystroke from said workstation to a server application; said application processing said keystroke and responding appropriate to context of said server application.
 2. The method of claim 1, said buffer being an auto enter, non-display entity on a display screen.
 3. The method of claim 1, said buffer being a non-screen entity accessible to said client.
 4. A method for character interactive input/output in a half duplex block mode environment including a workstation and a server, comprising the steps of: connecting said client workstation to said server; defining a workstation display as a 1-byte character input field that has auto-enter and non-displayable attributes; receiving a keystroke into said input field; automatically transferring said keystroke from said workstation display to a server application; said application processing said keystroke and responding appropriate to context of said server application.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of: and communicating an attention signal from said client workstation; responsive to said attention signal, communicating said keystroke from said workstation display to said server application.
 6. The method of claim 4, said client and server together becoming a cascaded client to a targeted application server that requires character dependent input/output in full duplex mode.
 7. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step preventing display of said input character on said display.
 8. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of operating said client and providing for translation of said character from EBCDIC to ASCII.
 9. A method for character interactive input/output in a half duplex block mode environment, comprising the steps of: configuring a workstation display device to a one character field; and immediately upon entry of an input character into said one character field, processing said input character by signaling an attention identifier from a client emulator application, and responsive to said attention identifier, retrieving said character from said one character field.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of translating and communicating said character to a remote server and application for interpretation within the context of said remote application.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of returning from said remote application to said client a display character for display at said workstation display.
 12. The method of claim 11, said display character selectively comprising an optional echo character which may or may not be said input character.
 13. A method for operating a client application in character interactive input/output mode in a half duplex block mode environment, comprising the steps of: responsive to receiving an attention command from a keyboard, retrieving from a one character display buffer configured as an auto-entry non-displayable display a single input character; and translating and communicating said input character to a remote application for interpretation within the context of said remote application.
 14. A method for operating a display, comprising the steps of: configuring said display with respect to a character entry device as a one character, auto-entry, non-displayable buffer; responsive to entry of an input character into said buffer, immediately communicating said input character to a remote application for interpretation.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of: Optionally receiving from said remote application an echo character selectively not said input character; and displaying said echo character.
 16. A system for performing character interactive input/output in a half duplex block mode environment including a workstation and a server, comprising: a display buffer for receiving a key stroke; a client for automatically transferring said key stroke from said workstation to a server application; said server application for processing said keystroke and responding appropriate to context of said server application.
 17. A system including a workstation and a server for character interactive input/output in a half duplex block mode environment, comprising: a network for connecting said workstation to said server; a workstation display configured as a 1-byte character input field that has auto-enter and non-displayable attributes; a keyboard for entering a keystroke into said input field; said workstation automatically transferring each said keystroke from said workstation display to a server application; and said server application for processing said keystroke and responding to said workstation with an echo character appropriate to context of said server application for display at said workstation display.
 18. A system for character interactive input/output in a half duplex block mode environment, comprising: a workstation display device configured as a one character field; a server; and a client emulator application responsive immediately upon entry of an input character into said one character field, for retrieving and communicating to said server said character from said one character field, and responsive to said server for displaying at said display device an echo character selectively different from said input character.
 19. A display for character interactive input/output in a half duplex block mode environment, comprising: a one character, auto-entry, non-displayable buffer for receiving from an input device an input character for communication to a server application; and an output field for displaying an echo character from said application.
 20. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform method steps for character interactive input/output in a half duplex block mode environment including a workstation and a server, said method steps comprising: receiving a key stroke into a buffer at said workstation; automatically transferring said key stroke from said workstation to a server application; said application processing said keystroke and responding appropriate to context of said server application.
 21. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform method steps for character interactive input/output in a half duplex block mode environment including a workstation and a server, said method steps comprising: connecting said client workstation to said server; defining a workstation display as a 1-byte character input field that has auto-enter and non-displayable attributes; receiving a keystroke into said input field; automatically transferring said keystroke from said workstation display to a server application; said application processing said keystroke and responding appropriate to context of said server application.
 22. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform method steps for character interactive input/output in a half duplex block mode environment, said method steps comprising the steps of: configuring a workstation display device to a one character field; and immediately upon entry of an input character into said one character field, processing said input character by signaling an attention identifier to a client emulator application, and responsive to said attention identifier, retrieving said character from said one character field.
 23. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform method steps for operating a client application in character interactive input/output mode in a half duplex block mode environment, said method steps comprising the steps of: responsive to receiving an attention command from a keyboard, retrieving from a one character display buffer configured as an auto-entry non-displayable display a single input character; and translating an communicating said input character to a remote application for interpretation within the context of said remote application.
 24. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform method steps for operating a display, said method steps comprising the steps of: configuring said display with respect to a character entry device as a one character, auto-entry, non-displayable buffer; responsive to entry of an input character into said buffer, immediately communicating said input character to a remote application for interpretation.
 25. A computer program product or computer program element for operating a display according to method steps comprising the steps of: configuring said display with respect to a character entry device as a one character, auto-entry, non-displayable buffer; responsive to entry of an input character into said buffer, immediately communicating said input character to a remote application for interpretation.
 26. The method of claim 1, said automatically transferring step further comprising the steps of: transferring said keystroke from said workstation to a Telnet client and thence to said server application via a Unix server.
 27. The method of claim 4, said automatically transferring step further comprising the steps of: transferring said keystroke from said workstation to a Telnet client and thence to said server application via a Unix server.
 28. The method of claim 27, said communicating step further comprising the steps of: transferring said keystroke from said workstation to a Telnet client and thence to said server application via a Unix server. 